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Supercars Legend McLaughlin Ends IndyCar Drought
McLaughlin led from pole as Alex Palou entered the finale with the championship already secured and three drivers were separated by 4 points for runner-up.
Scott McLaughlin starts on pole position for the 2026 IndyCar Series season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, leading 25 drivers through 95 laps on the 2.238-mile road course.
Already-Crowned 2026 IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou starts second, while Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, and Pato O'Ward battle for runner-up honors, separated by only 4 points.
Following the Lap 5 restart, McLaughlin held the lead ahead of Palou in second; Kirkwood, who started sixth, moved to third place on the 2.238-mile circuit.
Sting Ray Robb sent Dennis Hauger into a barrier early in the race, jeopardizing Hauger's push for a top-22 points finish worth $1.7 million for 2027.
The finale caps a 2026 season where Palou claimed six victories; Marcus Ericsson's improvement with Andretti Global from 20th in 2025 demonstrated his credentials for upper-tier teams.